Devils bounce Huskies for first win

SPT EVBB vs BM 1 DT 3-19-13
Dominique Taylor/dtaylor@vaildaily.com
Eagle Valley's Travis Edgar, right, gets a fist bump from his coach, Jesse Meryhew, center as he runs home after hitting a home run in the final play of the game against Battle Mountain Tuesday in Gypsum. Eagle Valley beat their local rivals 12-2.

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It wasn't Game 7 of the World Series nor did it cap a a dramatic comeback. But give the kid a break, it's not every day you finish a game by going yard.

Eagle Valley's Travis Edgar threw six innings of two-run ball and iced matters with a solo shot to center as the Devils downed Battle Mountain, 12-2, Tuesday afternoon in Gypsum.

"That was fun. It felt good," Edgar said. "I hit it and looked up and said, 'Please go out.'"

And that helped the Devils (1-3) snap a three-skid to start the season from last weekend's season-opening tournament at Montrose.

"It was great to see them bounce back," Eagle Valley manager Jesse Meryhew said. "As far as last weekend down there, I wasn't too upset. We had five sophomores seeing varsity for the first time. They played well. Montrose and Durango are tough."

Huskies starter Abakar Souleme struggled with his control early, and the Devils capitalized. Eagle Valley's Harrison Stevens rapped a two-run single in the first and the Devils picked up two more runs on wild pitches. Eagle Valley put up another four-spot in the second, with RBIs coming from Wade Ticer and Stevens.

"I think it's a work in progress," Huskies manager Jose Meza said of Souleme. "When he works down, good things happen. He's learning."

Meanwhile, Edgar looked sharp on the mound. He fanned eight Battle Mountain batters and walked just three. His only blemish was a two-run double from the Huskies' Heivan Garcia.

"Travis threw a gem," Meryhew said. "He's a good athlete and a good competitor. We know we're going to get his best every time he goes out there."

Eagle Valley added two more in the top of the fifth, including a sacrifice fly courtesy of Sam Boyd. Edgar ended it with his booming shot to center.

The Devils are at Paonia Thursday. Meanwhile, the Huskies (0-4) are scheduled to host Glenwood for a twinbill Saturday, but the weather could well change those plans.

In the meantime, Meza remains optimistic about his club.

"When Abakar was throwing strikes, our defense was making some plays," Meza said. "That's something we're getting better at. We're not throwing the ball around too bad. I think our pitchers are learning if they throw strikes, we've got some guys who can make plays."